Trek to Machu Picchu and Go to the Amazon

The guides were great, the location was great. The 4 day Amazon portion was disappointing. What was listed in the itinerary was not available in our location. The guides knew nothing about what our scheduled itinerary was. When we asked the tour lead for Action Perú he said that was for people who book next year. I was looking forward to the canopy tour. . instead we took a walk.

While there were parts of the experience I genuinely enjoyed — including the natural beauty of the surroundings and the enthusiasm of the guides — the overall service did not match the price paid. The accommodation was below expectations in terms of cleanliness and comfort, and during the trek, the guides were not equipped with basic safety essentials like a first aid kit, extra water, or emergency food. With a few improvements, this could be a much better experience, but as it stands, it felt overpriced for what was offered.

This trip basically has three segments. First, the Salkantay trek. Starting one day at thirty degrees in the mountains, ending it twelve hours later in an eighty-degree cloud forest. Days were long and sometimes taxing but the scenery is spectacular throughout. Crossing the Salkantay Pass felt dramatic -- small avalanches vibrating down the mountain while our guide Eddie led a Quechuan ceremony as condors flew nearby.

Second is Machu Picchu and the stay in Aguas Calientes. Is it possible for one of the world's most famous sites to be more impressive than advertised? We arrived near sunrise and watched as mists evaporated and gave way to a sunny morning. The size and scope of the ruins, as well as the surrounding natural environment, are awesome.

Third is the rainforest visit to Tambopata. Lots of wildlife (caiman, capybara, macaws, several monkey species, tarantulas) and trees that seemed like characters in a fantasy novel. Loved waking to the birds and howler monkeys outside. There's a swimming creek on site and enough downtime to enjoy it. All chill and magical.

Nothing but praise for the guides. Lino and Eddie kept the hike organized and on track across a range of experience levels and paces. I also realized late how much logistical work they do behind the scenes, like organizing meals and last-minute changes to transportation and site admissions. When someone became ill, they arranged for immediate transport; one night they surprised someone with a birthday cake. Superb. In the rainforest, Leo had a supernatural ability to spot wildlife from a distance. Highly knowledgeable and experienced, with great stories and a goofball sense of humor that kept things light.

The group got along great. There was an even age distribution from mid-20s to early 60s. About half came in pairs and half solo. Many experienced hikers -- several had climbed Kilimanjaro -- and big, enthusiastic personalities. Enjoyed everybody on the tour. Got a little misty-eyed saying goodbye at the end.

A few things I wished I'd known. Bring plenty of cash for the hike: there's no electronic payment outside of the cities, no ATMs and you'll want to tip the crew and buy snacks on the trail. Only about 1-1/2 days of the hike are legit cold; I overpacked on winter gear. Camping accommodations were fine but it's not glamping: cold showers and rooster wake-up calls at odd hours. Expect to be up at 5 a. m. most mornings, sometimes earlier. Light long sleeves and long pants are the way to avoid bug bites. Get a Diomax prescription: seemed like we were all on it and mostly avoided altitude problems. Parts of the Tambopata visit varied from the published itinerary, but it was all awesome, so I didn't care.

The adventure was amazing - mainly thanks to the incredible group I was with. The trek isn’t too physically demanding but satisfying and incredible views, so varied and so fun to see the lake, glacier and cross into the jungle. So much variety in 4 days.

I would highly recommend doing the shorter walk along the railway line of day 4 so you can get the earlier tickets for Machu Picchu.

The 6am tickets are well worth it as the crowds are much less and you get some fabulous pictures.

The jungle stay is amazing! The eco lodge is gorgeous and guides wonderful.

Overall, a fabulous trip, however, our guide in Cusco and trekking (Leno) was very poor and lacked any enthusiasm and interest in the group, several people had travel dilemmas and both Leno and Roxner were incredibly unhelpful so need to work on their skills there. However, the experience is fab and the group I was with were absolute 10/10.

In all honesty, MBA need to pick up the quality of their guides as a few people have had mediocre experiences. Having personally had unacceptable guides on another trip I currently would not recommend MBA and would certainly explore companies that offer the same route and jungle stay as the actual adventure is top level.

This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures—and it definitely won’t be my last.

The trek to Machu Picchu was physically demanding, with a few tough days of hiking, but every step was absolutely worth it. The scenery along the way was breathtaking, and camping out under the stars made the whole experience feel even more immersive and special. It’s important for anyone considering this trip to understand that it is tough—you don’t need to be an athlete, but having a solid base level of fitness will make a big difference in how much you enjoy it.

Our guides, Edi and Lino, were incredible—enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fully engaged with the group from start to finish. They brought so much energy and insight to the journey. One of the most meaningful moments was an Incan ceremony led by Edi at the top of the Salkantay Pass—an intimate and spiritual experience that brought the group closer together.

The meals on the trek were excellent, thanks to a dedicated team of chefs who worked hard to keep us well-fed with fresh and plentiful food. A really thoughtful highlight was the birthday cake they arranged for one of our group members—completely unexpected and very appreciated.

As a group, we chose to change our Machu Picchu entry time to see the sunrise—and we’re so glad we did. The early start was well worth it. The views as the sun lit up the ruins were absolutely stunning, and we were fortunate to experience it with very few people around us. That quiet, golden morning light added something truly magical to an already awe-inspiring place. It felt incredibly special to be there in that moment.

The Amazon leg of the adventure was completely different, but just as impressive. We were lucky enough to spot a huge variety of wildlife—capybaras, caimans, snakes, monkeys, otters, and macaws. The accommodation was basic, exactly what you'd expect and want in a remote setting, and the food—while simpler—was always fresh and tasty.

A huge part of what made this trip so memorable was the group itself. The 13 of us bonded quickly and shared so many incredible moments together. We’re already planning a reunion and searching for our next adventure.

Overall, the trip exceeded expectations on every level. Thank you to Much Better Adventures for delivering such a meaningful, challenging, and unforgettable experience. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

This was my first MBA trip, and it did not disappoint! The trip was incredible from start to finish.

The Salkantay Trail was brilliant - stunning scenery, knowledgeable guides, and excellent support throughout. The food and accommodations along the trail were great and made the whole experience more enjoyable.

The second leg of the trip in the Amazon was just as unforgettable. Once again, the guides went above and beyond, even organising extra activities like bird spotting during our downtime.

I can’t recommend this trip highly enough. If you’re considering it, go for it - you won’t be disappointed. An unforgettable experience all around!

This trip was one of the best I have done. The Salkantay trek was beautiful and the Amazon is simply magical. Our guides on both parts of the trip were wonderful, so knowledgable and passionate about their culture and the Andes/Amazon, they went over and above giving us special ceremonies and additional guided walks. Food was exceptional, we had mountains of food everyday. I’d do this trip again in a heartbeat

I loved this trip, it was a great balance of non stop activity (trekking, camping, visiting Inca sites) for the first half and a more relaxed few days wildlife spotting in the Amazon. The guides for both the trek and jungle were fantastic and their enthusiasm, knowledge and kindness really made the trip what it was. Lino and Eddie for the trekking and Sami and Leo for the Amazon. The group was also lovely and I feel privileged to have shared the experience with everyone there.

I recently completed the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, followed by a trip to the Amazon, and it was an experience filled with both highs and lows. Salkantay Trek: The trek was challenging but rewarding. The breathtaking scenery, especially at Salkantay Pass, was a major highlight. While physically demanding, the knowledgeable guides made the journey easier. Machu Picchu: Arriving at Machu Picchu was a dream come true. The ruins are magnificent, and exploring them is unforgettable. Although the site can get crowded, arriving early helps. Amazon Trip: My time in the Amazon provided a nice change of pace. The lush environment was beautiful, and I enjoyed learning about the diverse wildlife and local culture. However, the accommodation was just okay, lacking some comfort, and the food was average—sufficient with limited amount. but I expected more variety and flavor given the region's rich culinary traditions. Unfortunately, the itinerary differed from what was advertised on the website. After an early morning departure, we arrived at the lodge in Puerto Maldonado with a lot of free time. Our first day included a short walk around the farm for fruit tasting, but there wasn’t much to do in the area. On the second day, we were supposed to go canoeing for three hours, hike for three hours, and enjoy a cooking class. Instead, we ended up walking 45 minutes to the canoe launch, paddling back with our guide, and then returning the same distance. When we expressed our disappointment, we were taken for a night walk around the same limited farm site instead of having the cooking class. Day three followed a similar pattern to what was described in the itinerary. Our guide, Berli, was friendly and passionate, showing his deep connection to the Amazon, which made the experience more enjoyable. Our host, Roxner, was very good at responding and following up before the tour. He was well-informed and welcoming during the trip, but unfortunately, nothing was addressed regarding the issues we faced while in the Amazon. Overall, while I appreciated certain aspects of the trip, I felt let down by the discrepancies in the itinerary and the overall experience. If you're looking for adventure and can handle some unpredictability, both Machu Picchu and the Amazon are worth exploring!

This trip blew me away in terms of everything it offers. The price is insanely good value for what you do every day. The initial week of trekking and reaching Machu Picchu was absolutely brilliant and something I will remember fondly forever. Our guide, Lino, truly made the experience superb too. Nothing was too much hassle, he ensured we were all safe and went at a pace which kept everyone together. The group dynamic was very special and I think we've met some very lovely friends for life. The second part of the trip, to the Amazon, was a little more chaotic and felt a bit less planned. I fully appreciate that this is a new trip though and flaws were to be expected. Our time there didn't align with the itinerary fully and we had to ask for some of the excursions to be added to our day - for example our night walk was swapped for a cookery class. I think the issue arose from us being in a different jungle lodge to that advertised - though it didn't greatly impact our experience and the jungle guide was also an excellent help with great knowledge of the local wildlife. This truly is the trip of a lifetime, you'll see an absolute wealth of wildlife especially birds within the Amazon. The itinerary means things are full on - 4am starts on most days and we were very tired towards the end of each day. That said, our cooks in the Salkantay trek were amazing!! 3 course meals when camping were very unexpected but extremely well received. Nothing was off the table too, we had potatoes, soups, fish, meat, juices, all very well presented and served. I think one day I had 3 bowls of soup I was that ravenous.

Unfortunately the food at the jungle lodge was a little more disappointing for me and the reason for my lack of 5 stars. The trip promises to manage allergies well which was certainly the case for the first half of the trip, though in the second part I found I was only able to safely eat rice every day due to the presence of Brazil nuts in the kitchen and the staff not being able to cook separately to avoid contamination. I did ask the tour owner when we met him if the jungle guide/team were aware of my allergies but was met with a "maybe, maybe not" response which was less than comforting. I think this is more of a MBA wider issue than related to the tour company themselves - allergies are taken less seriously in other countries to the UK and I think there needs to be a better discussion with these tour companies to ensure their facilities etc. are able to meet a set list of minimum requirements where food preparation is concerned. All in all, the trip is wonderful and I'd recommend to all. My issue is of course not going to impact everyone, but I would suggest improvements can be made here and would welcome the opportunity to discuss further with MBA.

An absolutely wonderful trip, packed with things to do, see and explore!

First, the Machu Picchu part: Salkantay Trek is a great way to get there, and we passed by some incredible views. The team (including Pedro and Eddie, the amazing guides for this part) are clearly very experienced and ready to take care of the group. I found the trek moderate to challenging but very doable - and I’m not generally a big hiker. But do get ready for long days walking, with a loooot of downhill (meaning extra comfy shoes). The chefs for this part have to be mentioned too - you will be eating so so well every day, even though you (and they) are constantly on the move.

Then seeing Machu Picchu in real life is a dream come true - incredible!

But the best part of the trip is that it carries on … and Amazonia has just as much to offer. Some really fun days here, filled with wildlife sightings and a bit more of an opportunity to chill with the group, too. There are some great guides working at the Lodge, and their skills of spotting wildlife were pretty incredible to witness. We saw all kinds of animals and plants: capybaras, squirrel monkeys, macaws and … definitely some creepy crawlies too.

Overall - it’s a fantastic trip!

An amazing trip from start to finish and varied it felt like two adventures rolled into one. As I have experienced with all my MBA trips previously we quickly bonded with our fellow travellers immediately. After a day spent in the Inca sites of the sacred valley we embarked on the trail of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. The trek was not overly arduous, but the elevation is quite high which can certainly make you blow. It was quite surreal visiting Machu Picchu after seeing it on my screensaver for years, absolutely wonderful experience brought to life by our guides. Phase two a trip to the Amazon to stay in an eco lodge/ village with plenty to see on guide directed hikes and a catamaran trip on a local lake, lots to see and appreciate, Capybaras are awesome 😎

Was a great laugh with a great group. Eddie, Pedro and the crew on the Salkantay trek were all good fun and very relaxed Leo and Raphael in the Amazon were great too, Leo being insanely energetic and Rafa being very chilled was the perfect mix for guides.

Was also a nice way to chill with the gang after the hard work on the hikes

I recently did another trip at altitude but flying into Cusco at 3500m hit me like a train so just be prepared!

Highly recommend